Term: qualitative analysis
https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.Q04973

Definition:
Analysis in which substances are identified or classified on the basis of their chemical or physical properties, such as chemical reactivity, solubility, molecular weight, melting point, radiative properties (emission, absorption), mass spectra, nuclear half-life, etc.

Related Terms:
1) quantitative analysis (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.Q04980).
2) solubility (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.S05740).
3) molecular weight (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.M04000).
4) melting (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.M03821).

Source: PAC, 1995, 67, 1699. 'Nomenclature in evaluation of analytical methods including detection and quantification capabilities (IUPAC Recommendations 1995)' on page 1701 (https://doi.org/10.1351/pac199567101699)

Citation: 'qualitative analysis' in IUPAC Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 5th ed. International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry; 2025. Online version 5.0.0, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.Q04973

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